Coin savings bank



J. A. KIDWELL COIN SAVINGS BANK April 7, 1925.

Filed Mqy 2, 9

. LIBERTY Tnnoucu INHABITAN TS 'TH E Patented Apr. 7, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,532,411 PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. KIDWELL, or LAKEWOOD, OHIO; ANNA n. KIDWELL ADMINISTRATRIX or SAID JAMES A. KIDWELL, nncnasan, assreuoa TO THE BANKERS'SAV'INGS AND CREDIT SYSTEM COMPANY, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION or O'HIO.

COKN SAVINGS BANK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. KIDWELL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Lakewood, in the county of Cuyahoga and Stateof Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin Savings Banks, of which I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip tion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention has reference to a coin receiving bank or container, having a removable bottom plate in which a coin receiving opening is formed, and includes interlocking means for said bottom plate and wall of said container. It also includes protecting appliances for the coin receiving slot which permit the introduction of coins of any size without resistance, but prevent their removal or accidental discharge therefrom.

The slot protection is also so designed as to be efiicient, and durable in use, and is con structed with this object in view without springs or hinged or delicate metal parts that could become broken, or in which the coins could become entangled.

The invention comprises acontainer,preferably bell-shaped and having a broad base, in which a bottom plate is detachably locked,

said base provided with a coin admission slot. Upon the inner face of this plate and upon each side of this slot are secured ball inclosures, provided with ball runs or grooves which incline upwardly and laterally away from the slot on both sides thereof, and which are raised by the inserted coins to separate them so as to allow the coins to pass into the receptacle, but which fall by gravity upon the inclined runways and close together over the slot, so as to prevent coins from escaping therefrom.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. l is a side elevation of a coin bank or container embodying the invention, a part of the casing being broken away to reveal the bottom plate and parts carried thereby; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bottom plate; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the bottom plate at right angles to Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a transverse frag- 1921. Serial No. 466,369.

mentary section of the bottom plate and ball inclosure, showing the coin admission slot and ball runways; Fig. 5 is a similar v1ew taken longitudinally of the ball inclosure; Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are, respectively, a

plan of the locking device, a plan of the same with the cover removed, and a longitudinal section thereof in position in the coin container.

In these views, A represents a bell-shaped bank or coin container, having an open base, the walls of which are provided with a marginal inwardly turned flange, B. C is the bottom plate which is provided with a raised lug, D, and when the lug is passed over the flange, B, will retain one side of the plate in position. Upon the other side a locking bolt, E, can be moved in and out of the case, F, to engage and overlap the flange, B, thus securing the bottom plate in place.

The locking mechanism will be hereinafter more fully described. The bottom plate is provided with a coin receiving opening, G. A ball inclosing structure is provided to protect this slot, as follows:

H, H, are duplicate inclosures in which the balls, I, I, are inclosed in runways, J, J, on both sides of the slot. These runways are upwardly and laterally inclined away from the slot, and are oppositely arranged and spaced apart the width of the slot, so that the balls in opposite runways will fall by gravity'and make contact with each other upon the longitudinal center line of the slot, and when a coin is inserted it will raise the balls and push them aside easily, but any attempt to withdraw the coin will only re sult in wedging the balls more tightly against it. The balls and runways are ar-a ranged in parallel rows on opposite sides of the slot, and cover plates, K, K, retain the balls within the run-ways. The runways are formed in metal blocks which are preferably secured together at their ends, L, L, and are attached to the bottom plate by means of lugs, M, M, pressed from the metal forming the bottom plate. I

The locking device is illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, where the bolt or latch E is shown an integral part of a latch plate, 0, which slides in a casing, P. This latch plate is provided with an opening, Q, from the margin of which a tooth, Q, projects. A second plate, R, rotatable within the opening, Q, is provided with a n0tch, S, engaged by the tooth, Q, and is also provided with an opening, T, having a notch, T. A cover plate U is applied to the underside of the latch plate t), the same fitting within the casing I. "When the casing P is secured to the bottom plate C, as shown, the cover plate U lies fiat against the bottom plate, as is clearly shown in Fig. 8. The bottom plate, cover plate U, the top wall of the casing P, as well as .the previously described latch plate 0 and rotary plate R are provided with axially aligned openings, the opening ofthe cover plate U being somewhat larger than that of the bottom plate, while the opening of the casing P is smaller than that of the bottom plate. A socket member W occupies these openings, having circumferential portions fitting the respective openings. The socket member V] is provided with a keyhole slot for the reception of the key V. The key is designed in accordance with usual lock practice and has a part fitting within the notch T of the rotary member R, while itisprovided with notches to accommodate stationary portions of the latch when the key is turned. Upon the turning of the key, the rotary member R is rotated and through reason of its connection with the tooth Q, of the latch plate 0 retracts the latch plate against the action of a spring 0 confined 'between the inner end of the latch plate and the opposed wall of the casing.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Asavings bank comprising, a coincontainer having an opening in its base, a detachable closure for said opening, locking .means for said closure, saidclosure provided witha coin admission slot, a metal block secured upon the inner side of said closure on each side of said slot, duplicate oppositely placed runs in said blocks, said ball runs inclined upwardly and laterally away from said slot on both sides thereof, and balls in said ball runs, opposite balls being actuated by gravity to make contact with each other and to normally close said coin admission slot. I

2. A savings bank comprising, a coin container having an opening in its base, a de tachable closure for said opening, locking means for said closure, said closure provided with a coin admission slot, a metal block secured upon the inner side of said closure on each side of said slot, duplicate oppositely placedruns insaidblocks, said ball runs inclined upwardly and laterally away from said slot on both sides thereof, and balls in saidball runs, opposite balls being actuated by gravity to make contact with each other and to normally close said coin admission slot, and means for attaching said blocks to said closure.

3. The combination with the wall of a coin bank or container, said wall provided with a coin admission slot, of duplicate opposite ball runs, arranged on both sides of said slot, inclined upwardly and laterally away from said slot, and "balls in said ball runs, said balls being actuated by gravity to make contact with each other and to normally close said coin admission slot.

at. The combination with the wall of a coin bank or container, said wall provided with a coin admission slot, of duplicate opposite ball runs. arranged on both sides of said slot, inclined upwardly and laterally away from said slot, and balls in said ball runs, said balls being actuated by gravity to make contact with each other and to normally close said coin admission slot, and means for retaining said balls in said ball runs.

In a savings bank, a container having an opening, a flange extending around said opening, a plate for closing said opening, said plate provided with a lug on one side adapted to engage the inner face of said flange to support one side of said plate, a bolt or member slidably mounted upon said plate and engageable with the othersi'de of said flange, said bolt or latch member having a central opening and a tooth upon the margin of said opening, a plate rotatable in said opening, the last mentioned plate provided with a notch engaging said tooth, a central rotatable socket member provided vith a key slot, and a key insertable in said key slot and engageable. withsaid last mentioned plate, and a spring for normally projecting said bolt or latch member over said flange.

6. The combination with the wall of a coin bank or container, said wall provided with a coin admission slot, of ball runs arranged along one side of said slot and inclined upwardly and laterally away from said slot, balls in said ball runs, and abutment's toward and into contact with Which the balls are adapted to gravitate to normally close the coin admission slot.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand this 7th day of December, 1920.

JAMES A. KIDWELL. In presence of S. VJ. SANos'rER, WM. M. MONROE. 

